Friday, 6 July 2018

News Obituary Helen Griffin



"We cannot afford to have a narrow definition of what it means to be Welsh. If we want to move forward we should be proud of multicultural Wales."

My first introduction to Helen Griffin was as Mrs Moore in the Doctor Who two parter Rise of the Cybermen and The Age of Steel, as the van driver and leading activist against the metal men invading the alternative universe. The Doctor remembered her in a flashback during the Stolen Earth two parter and given her stance on anti-war, anti-racism and feminist causes, this role as Mrs Moore was right up her street

I remembered her also in Gavin and Stacey, when James Corden’s character was desperate to see his son being born and they were 10p short of the Toll.

As well as a brilliant actress who was loved by much of Wales (if not all – have you read the messages of condolences on Twitter), Helen was also a writer, of episodes of popular television dramas to also a film drama about a travelling circus in Victorian times, set around Wales, and starring a host of familiar Welsh actors and actresses. It was directed by Keith Allen.

Recently Helen played Maggie Talbot in Keeping Faith, the wife of a minister going through hard times. I hardly recognised her, but then, Doctor Who was a good ten years ago, and we all do change. A fantastic talented lady who we shall all miss.

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